200 Years of Carolina Chemistry

Bo Li is one of Carolina chemistry’s rising young stars. Behind her is Royce Murray, who has been with the department for nearly six decades and for whom Murray Hall is named. (photo by Steve Exum)

In April, Carolina chemistry will celebrate its 200th birthday. A key secret to reaching this venerable milestone and achieving an international reputation has been to invest in generations of promising young scientists like Bo Li and to provide them with the tools they need to thrive. Today, young scholars continue to work alongside foundational members of the department — people like Royce Murray, who has been on the faculty for 58 years.

Check out more coverage of Carolina chemistry, which celebrates its bicentennial during a weekend of festivities April 20-21.

Each Wednesday in April, Endeavors magazine will focus on a different woman in chemistry in its “Women in Science Wednesday” Check out the first feature on chemistry/Asian studies major Ling Lin.

The department of chemistry has been the birthplace of many innovative startups. Read about Ribometrix, a startup founded by professor Kevin Weeks and former undergraduate student Katie Warner. Learn more about another startup in this story about professor Joseph DeSimone’s company Carbon.